In the Studio with Beth Judge – A Slowmade Collective Member Spotlight
Beth tell us a little about you and your work.
I am a jewelry designer based in Hopewell, New Jersey, just outside of Princeton. My journey with jewelry began at 16 in high school, where I first learned traditional metalsmithing techniques including soldering, forging, and casting. From there I received a BFA in Metals with an Art Ed from Tyler School of Art at Temple University.
A few years later, I continued my education at the Gemological Institute of America in California, earning my Graduate Gemologist diploma.
I spent over 15 years working full-time in the retail jewelry industry, specializing in repairs, custom work, and diamond setting. During that time, I gradually built my own studio practice, investing in tools, and creating work alongside my retail career.
After my children were born, I stopped working full-time in retail, continuing to work part-time in my studio. I balanced creating jewelry, participating in craft shows, and helping my husband (now ex) open and run a restaurant, his long-time dream. During this period, I moved my studio out of my home and into a dedicated space.
For the past 12 years, I’ve maintained a brick-and-mortar studio, where I create and sell my work, as well as take on custom work and repair projects. About 10 years ago, I returned to teaching art, which I continue alongside my studio practice.
In recent years, after closing the restaurant following an 18-year run, navigating a divorce, and watching my children grow into adulthood, I’ve been able to refocus more on my jewelry and creative work. Looking ahead, I plan to retire from teaching in a few years and devote even more time to the studio.
My work is primarily in sterling silver, with occasional gold custom orders or incorporated as accents in my personal work. I am especially drawn to color, whether through natural gemstones or vitreous enamel, and my designs tend to be organic in style. I like finishing sterling with a soft satin texture and a patina. Much of my work is one-of-a-kind or limited production.
How did you first come to your craft?
I grew up knowing I wanted to be an artist. Once I began working with metals when I was in high school I felt like I was home.
What do you love most about having a creative business?
What I love most about having a creative business is the ability to take an idea from my imagination and bring it to life with my hands, and it becomes a wearable piece of art.
More recently, as I’ve been able to dedicate more time to what truly brings me joy, I’ve also found a deeper appreciation for the work of other artists. I find myself slowing down, looking more closely, and gaining a better understanding of the thought and skill behind their work.
What do you love most about being in the Collective?
I’m still new to the Collective, and I’m really looking forward to spending more time engaging and participating. What has already stood out to me is the honesty and openness of the community. For a long time, I’ve felt quite alone in my experiences, and even in this short time, being part of the Collective has helped me realize that other women have felt, or are feeling, the same way on so many of the same issues. That realization has been incredibly calming and reassuring.
I’m so grateful to be here. I’ve been enjoying the articles, listening to podcast episodes, and joining a few events when I can. One of my favorite parts has been seeing inside other artists’ studios and hearing about their work. I absolutely love those glimpses into their creative worlds.
What’s been challenging you lately in your work or business?
Right now, I’m working toward shifting the balance in my studio, spending more time designing and creating new work, and less on repairs and custom pieces. I’m also focused on finding my creative voice and, once I’ve defined it more clearly, learning how to communicate and market it effectively. Pricing my work more confidently and sustainably is another important piece I’m continuing to figure out.
At the same time, while navigating a full-time teaching job and the responsibilities of managing my home on my own. And somewhere in the mix, I’m trying to make space for a social life too.
What’s something outside of your work that fills you up right now?
Outside of my work, there are a few things that really fill me up right now. My dog, Maggie, is pure joy, she’s my constant companion on walks, hikes, and even yard work. She often comes to the studio with me, happily greeting customers.
I’ve also rediscovered how important it is to create in other mediums purely for the enjoyment of it, without any pressure to sell or assign value. Giving myself that freedom has been incredibly energizing, and I’ve found that it naturally feeds back into my jewelry design. Lately, that’s taken the form of sewing, working with clay (I set up a small ceramics studio in my basement during COVID), knitting and crochet, as well as experimenting with eco printing and Shibori.
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
A few years after graduating from college, I entered, and won, a diamond design competition. My submission was a detailed rendering filled with diamonds, but once the design was selected, I was suddenly faced with the reality of actually having to make it. I felt completely overwhelmed and unsure where to begin, questioning whether I even had the bench skills to create it.
I went back to my high school jewelry teacher for guidance. I’ll never forget the look on his face, he smiled and asked if I had ever seen The Wizard of Oz. I was so panicked that I didn’t quite understand what he was getting at. Then he asked me, “What did the lion need?” “Courage,” I answered. And that was it. All I needed was the courage to take the first step, then the next, and the next. I figured it out. A few months later, I was flown to Paris to receive my award.
That lesson has stayed with me ever since. The idea of simply finding the courage to move forward, one step at a time, has carried me through many challenging moments in both my life and my work.
Beth on Instagram: @bethanndesigns
Beth’s Website: bethannjudge.com